Superdrive/target disk mode question revisited

My mbp has a broken superdrive. I have connected my mac mini to my mbp and am running the mini in target disk mode. my problem comes with installing software -- when the software asks me to insert the dvd, and i put it in the mini, it does not recognize me as having inserted the dvd, and i can't progress in the installation without inserting said dvd. is there a setting i need to change to have it read the mini's superdrive as default? thanks!

Hi dmmd,
What model of "mini" is it, and what OS version does it have running on it?
There are now ways of using another mac's optical drive for software installation and the like which don't actually require TD mode to be used.
Have a look at http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Snow_Leopard_InstallationInstructions.pdf for a good example.
Cheers
Rod

Similar Messages

Firewire target disk mode question

I am using firewire target disk mode to copy some files, but can only see the system drive on the slave computer, what do I do so I can see the secondary hard drive on the slave computer?

You'll have to swap drives. TDM only sees the MASTER drive. If your drives are jumpered MASTER and SLAVE then switch them. If the computer uses CABLE SELECT then swap the position of each drive on the ribbon cable.

Won't boot, recognise superdrive or startup in target disk mode

I've been trying to help a friend with his iMac G4 that crashed. Of course he hasn't backed up his hard drive in years. I've searched the forums and have tried several methods to get his machine running or at least recover his data but with no luck.
Here's what happens:
When I turn on his computer I can hear repeated clicking which eventually stops. The screen comes up grey and eventually a flashing icon appears, alternating between a folder with a Finder icon and a folder with a question mark.
Here's what I've tried:
I've tried booting in target disk mode but that doesn't work.
I've tried booting holding down the mouse button but the superdrive tray doesn't open.
I've booted into Open Firmware and typed "eject cd". The system pauses for a long time then gives me the message "can't OPEN the EJECT device".
I've manually opened the superdrive tray, loaded a disc, then booted while holding down the "c" key. I can hear the drive spin, but the computer doesn't boot from the disk. I've tried loading a Tiger DVD, a DiskWarrior CD and an OS 9 CD.
I've tried removing the Airport card and additional RAM.
I've tried resetting the PRAM.
I've tried resetting the PMU.
I've booted into Open Firmware and typed "reset-nvram" then "reset-all".
Nothing has worked. The computer always returns to the flashing Finder/question mark folder.
I'd really appreciate any suggestions on where to go from here.
Thanks!

When you can't boot from any method it usually signals that one of 2 things (maybe both) have failed:
Motherboard
Hard drive - Some hard drive failures lock up the ATA controller so badly that the Mac can't boot from any device.

Using Superdrive in target disk mode

My Superdrive on my MBP seems to have stopped working. It refuses to read CDs and DVDs, be they burned or not. My question isn't about the drive, though; I'll figure that out later. I have a Mac Mini and am going to boot it in target disk mode. Is it possible for me to use the superdrive on the mini when it is in that mode? I lent my firewire cables to a friend or I'd test it out right now. I need to install some software on my MBP, and it requires the installation DVD, and so I'm out of luck unless I can use the Superdrive on the mini. Is that possible? If not, is there another way I can configure the computers so I can use the superdrive on the mini instead of the broken superdrive on the MBP?

Is it possible for me to use the superdrive on the mini when it is in that mode?
Yes.
(50471)

Flashing Question Mark Folder after Clean Install in Target Disk Mode

I have an old iBook G4 with a failing optical drive and the need to reformat the hard drive and re-install OS 10.5.4. Since the optical drive is failing and unpredictable, I figured I'd do everything in target disk mode.
So I mounted the hard drive of the iBook to my Mac Pro via Firewire in target disk mode. I was able to successfully format the hard drive of the iBook, zeroing out all the data with 7 passes, and I was also able to successfully install OS 10.5.4 from my original Install DVD, again in target disk mode.
After the install was complete, I went through all the registration process and User Account setup and the iBook booted fine albeit still in target disk mode. So I shut down the Mac Pro, turned off the iBook and unplugged the Firewire cable. My Mac Pro booted up just fine afterward. But the iBook now gives me the flashing question mark/finder folder.
I know this means that the iBook is having trouble located a startup volume, or that the startup volume is corrupt or missing data. How can this be, though, after a reformat and clean install? Did I do something wrong in target disk mode? Or did I neglect to do something necessary?
Thanks for anyone's help on this.

Thanks, Niel.
I don't see APM as an option in Disk Utility when booting from my Mac Pro. I only have Mac OS Extended (Journaled), Mac OS Extended, Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled), Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive), MS-DOS (FAT) and ExFAT.
How do I get my Mac Pro to repartition the iBook properly in target disk mode?

Tech question - Target Disk Mode

Will the new MacBooks have some form of Target Disk Mode? I just want to be sure when deciding on which model to buy.
Is it available via USB/Ethernet?
Anyone with a definitive answer (not speculation). I'm guessing I'll have to wait until someone reviews a model, but thought I'd ask.

I don't see too many issues with not having Firewire/TDM on the new Macbooks...
If you're wanting Firewire so that you can connect a camcorder, then a new Macbook is probably not the computer for you anyway. If you're a high end user (aka - Final Cut user) then you probably should be using a Macbook Pro which does have Firewire. If you're an educational user, you're probably in the market for the cheapest model Macbook in which case you should get the White Macbook.
If you're using Firewire so that you can rescue data from a broken new Macbook, then the hard disks are very easily removed from these and put into either another new Macbook/Macbook Pro, or into an external SATA 2.5" case with whatever interface(s) you might want.
If you're using it simply as a one off to migrate data from another computer, then you can use the migration assistant over a network.
The ONLY issues I really see are:
1) Migrating over a network is slower though if both Macs had gigabit, then in theory, a crossover network cable is quicker than FW400
2) The Migration assistant when run from the finder lacks the ability to migrate from an attached USB drive, only a FW drive. This is annoying if you say put the HD from the old Mac into an external case with USB for example
3) The Migration assistant from what I can see can only import data from an old Mac over the network if it is running Leopard. I can't see anywhere that the Tiger Migration assistant allows migrating over a network... maybe it does?
You have to remember that Apple isn't going to be able to support all technologies forever... If given a choice, I'd rate the new Macbooks (and old Macbooks) ease of HD removal a far more important aspect from a troubleshooting perspective than say having a Mac with a FW port and a difficult to remove HD (remember iBooks anyone?)
I would like Apple to either release a downloadable Tiger compatible Migration Assistant to fill the void as per no 3 above. I would have also liked Apple to have put 3 USB ports on the Macbook rather than just the two as I like to have an external keyboard, mouse, time machine backup disk, ipod/iphone. I like to leave the second port on the keyboard for incidental use - digital camera, pendrive, printer etc etc.

Target Disk Mode with G4 PowerBook

This week I'm installing a new hard drive in my 2003 867Mhz PB. I plan to do a fresh install from the original CDs so I will have a computer clear of much data for a trip I'm going on next week. I will apply all updates to 10.4.11 to match my Mac Pro.
1. Can I install my '08 iLife apps onto my PowerBook? I'm the only user of both machines and normally I wouldn't care that the PB still has '06 since I rarely use it. However, the purpose of my trip is to take photos for five days. My PB doesn't meet the minimum requirements for Aperture. I want to start culling some of the photos on the trip so I won't have too many to import to Aperture when I return. Taking a bunch of DVDs isn't an option because the PB doesn't have a SuperDrive.
2. If I can install iPhoto '08, will Aperture see the PB's iPhoto Library in Target Disk Mode? If I can't install '08, will Aperture see the '06 iPhoto Library in Target Disk Mode? I will not be editing any photos in iPhoto on the PB - only viewing them to delete the bad out of the collection so I won't have to import a huge collection. Obviously iPhoto won't be running on either machine when I connect them in Target Disk Mode, so technically I won't have more than one copy in use at any time.
I have a wireless home network. I could set up file sharing on my PB to transfer the photos, but I think that would be much slower than using Target Disk Mode. Since I'm taking photos for my job, and knowing the schedule of events and shoot list, I'm estimating 10G of photos minimum. That's a lot of time with a pokey old PB for transferring. I won't be taking a Firewire hard drive because it's too bulky with all the other equipment considering that the 120G hard drive I'm installing in the PB won't have many apps. I also won't have internet access so I can't upload the photos to my iDisk.
3. Does anyone know if Target Disk Mode can be used with my PB when I upgrade my Mac Pro to Leopard? I'm not planning on installing Leopard on the PB (don't know if it meets the minimum requirements) because I don't see myself using the PB too often. By the time I need to be portable more frequently, I will buy a MBP. I hadn't turned the PB on for over a year until last week to make sure it still works for this trip. It would be more useful to buy an extra iPod to store photos than to buy Leopard for the PB.
Sorry if that seemed like a confusing bunch of questions. I tried searching the forums and Apple's support site and now I'm too exhausted to think too clearly. Thanks for any help or pointers.

I have to answer my own post as this question probably isn't allowed here. After installing the new hard drive I read the license agreement while waiting for the restore DVD to finish. I didn't bother with upgrading 10.2 which is what the PB had when new. I immediately installed Tiger and after it's done updating I'll see what software I need/want besides iWork. I'm sure Tiger isn't different in the license than Leopard. (So I'll have to plan on getting a new portable soon as I think the Target Disk Mode is faster for transferring unless I get another Firewire drive.)
But at least the new hard drive and maxed RAM has made my PB a bit more peppy. Or maybe I'm not remembering how slow it was because I haven't yet used it. I'm currently still waiting for Tiger to finish installing. I'll hold off a little longer before upgrading my Mac Pro to Leopard to find out if there are any network gotchas I should know about with my PowerBook. If I'd been using the PB, I'd know all these answers. I've just been so thrilled with my Mac Pro and 23" monitor that the PB hasn't had much appeal. But maybe I'll try to wring a little more life out of the PB.

Need Help Installing Snow Leopard onto a blank HD via Target Disk Mode

Hey everyone.
Recently I had the HD on my Black Macbook crash due to a mechanical failure. I have just purchased a new Hard Drive for my Macbook. It is completely blank other than the fact that I connected it to my girlfriend's White Macbook earlier today to create 2 partitions. I have a new copy of Snow Leopard that I want to install on it and was hoping someone could guide me through the process.
What I have with me as of now is:
One Black Macbook (UK bought) w/ Partitioned Blank HD and a non-functional Superdrive
One White Macbook (US bought) running Tiger w/ working Superdrive that mounts the SL DVD
FireWire Cable
New Snow Leopard DVD
My first attempt at this failed. I connected the two Macs with the FW cable and started up the Black Macbook in Target Disk mode. Both my HD partitions showed up on the White Macbook. I inserted the SL DVD into the White Macbook and when it mounted I clicked on install. Of course, now it thinks that I want to install SL on the White Macbook whereas I want to install it on the Black Macbook.
I'm a college student without a working computer and with my finals coming up, I'm in deep trouble. I want to mention that my Black Macbook's Superdrive spits out _everything except for Movie DVDs and My Leopard Startup Disk._ It spins the SL DVD for a few seconds and spits it out as well. I'm wondering whether this might be an issue with the DVD region code on the SL DVD though I don't think that's it. My region code is currently set to Region 1 (US) where I purchased the Snow Leopard DVD off Amazon. I initially thought there was a problem with the DVD and CD lens in the drive and I bought a DVD/CD Lens Cleaner CD but I can't run it because the Superdrive spits that out too. I'm out of warranty on the Black Macbook so fixing the Superdrive is pretty much out of the question. I was under the impression that I would be able to install SL via Target Disk Mode without any hassles but boy was I ever so wrong.
Is there any way that I can do this? I'm hoping someone here can help me out. Please do if you find the time to.

By other computer, do you mean the White Macbook? So I should basically put the SL DVD in the White Macbook, restart with the C key held down? Is that right?
Please pardon me if I'm being stupid.

Data recovery options if drive not accessible through Target Disk Mode

I have the classic data recovery question: my computer seems to have failed, and I'd like to save some data. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Details:
- Most recent backup was about a month ago to Time Machine (unfortunately, this laptop went off on a long trip and didn't have access to the destination disk, and then when it came home was running very slowly and my wife halted the TM backup thinking it was slowing the computer down). Some documents have been backed up more recently via Dropbox and/or Mozy, but not a couple important ones
- When booted in Target Disk Mode, no drive shows up on the computer to which I connect it
- When I boot from an OS X CD, a drive appears in Disk Utility with no volumes on it, and the options to 'repair disk' and 'verify disk' are greyed out.
- When I try to just start the computer up, it gets to the grey screen with the apple and just spins.
Questions:
- Should I attempt anything else myself? I've never learned about Lion's Recovery Mode; can it be used to copy some data off, in the unlikely case that this computer would boot into that Mode? Would any further attempts to boot, etc. potentially reduce the chances of a professional company recovering data?
- I'm planning to take this to an Apple Store today to confirm that this is indeed a hard drive problem and not a failed mother board or something; is there a way for me to do this myself? In the past I've used Hardware Test CDs from Apple and stuff; I don't know if those still work on modern computers.
Thanks again for any help!

I know I used to have a copy of Disk Warrior, but can't find it and it's probably out of date. I downloaded the Data Rescue demo, but it only got partway through scanning the disk and then failed. It told me to 'clone' the disk, but after about three days of trying still wasn't making much progress on it, so I gave up.
However, I was able to recover the few important files I needed simply by removing the drive, putting it in an enclosure, and connecting it via USB. After 10 or 20 minutes, Finder gave me a message that said something like, "this disk cannot be repaired, and is probably damaged. You can still access the disk, but copy everything off ASAP because it will probably fail soon." Some files indeed couldn't be copied, but I could copy the things I needed.
I assume that this is a hardware problem. To confirm, I assume that I can check it without having DiskWarrior simply by trying to reformat it? If it can't be reformatted, I assume there's no chance that it is a functioning drive. Is that right?

Power Mac G4 stuck in Target Disk Mode

The other night I put my Gigbit Ethernet into Target Disk Mode so I could migrate my files to a newer machine (a mirrored drive door G4 with dual 1.42mhz processors). After the migration was complete (which took 9 hours), I tried ejecting the target disk but got a perpetual spinning beach ball and had to force everything off. Unfortunately, either because my newer machine came with a faulty Tiger installation, or my migration messed the installation up - the finder kept crashing and things such as "Get Info" wasn't working- I had to endeavor to get a working version of Tiger on the newer machine. I wanted to clone my older drive to my newer drive.
Futzing around for over an hour to try to gain access to my old Power Mac's hard Disc, which was still, according to the bouncing Icon on the screen, in target disk mode, I could not access the drive at all from the newer machine. When I tried, such as by double clicking on its desktop icon, by right clicking on the same Icon, or if I went into the system preferences to change the startup disk with the gigabit ethernet attached, I got the perpetual spinning beach ball. Also, I could not access the drive from the disk utility app that is on the Tiger install DVD. Luckily, I had a pretty fresh bootable backup of the gigabit ethernet on a firewire drive that I cloned to my newer computer. I just have a handful of files that I want to transfer from the gigabit ethernet if I had my drothers.
Am I screwed here? Is there a way to force my Gigabit Ethernet out of Target Disk Mode without hooking it up to another computer? If it's possible to get the Gigabit Ethernet to boot again successfully, I can transfer my file over my network. Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers

I am confused...it sounds to me like what you wish to do is to make an exact copy of the hard disk in your Gigabit Ethernet and apply that copy to the drive in your MDD, correct?
From what I understand, you are saying you cannot access your GE's hard disk using target disk mode? Or am I mistaken? Also, can you not boot up normally on the GE's hard disk? Is there something wrong with it?
The easiest way to clone a disk is to just make a disk image of the hard disk you wish to keep, and then apply that disk image to the destination disk. Disk utility can perform all this very easily, and pretty quickly. Of course, if you are having trouble booting in target disk mode, this can be a problem...
I'm still kind of confused on what exactly is the problem, and what you are trying to accomplish. Could you please explain a little more and answer the questions above? Much appreciated.

Is it possible to store a back up on external HD by transfering files using Target Disk Mode?

Dear Apple community,
There's absolutely no way that I'm going to be able to fix my MBP without a clean install. I simply cannot log in and get to my desktop screen after upgrading to Mavericks. So I will have to erase everything and perform a clean install. However, before proceeding with this plan, I'll have to back up my files from my MPB since I cannot use my mac normally, I'll have to back up my files using the Target Disk Mode. I've connected my MPB to another MPB in the past, so I know how the process work. But this time around I won't be able to use another MBP but a MB. I have a few doubts regarding the process especially in what concernd adding an external HD to this equation. So please bear with me and see if you can answer my doubts.
So this is the equipment I'll be working with: my MPB, my friends MacBook (2008) and my 1TB external hard drive.
My basic question is: once I connect my MPB in Target Disk Mode to the MB, I'm sure I'd be able to transfer my files to this MB. But let's say that I don't want to leave my files in this MB (after all it's not my computer) and want to send my files straight to an external HD connected to this MB. Is it possible? If positive, I know that the only FireWire port in the MB is a 400 port. That means my MBP will be connect to the MB using the only FireWire port available in the MB. So I believe that my external HD would have to be connected to the MB with the help of an USB cable. I assume that this will make the transferring process a little slower than if I could count solely on FireWire ports. Slowing the process down is not a problem but could this corrupt any of my files during the transferring process or even damage anything? I assume that would never happen after all it's just digital data, but better safe than sorry, right? What do you think?
Another thought that occurred to me is: let's say I connect my MBP to the MB using the FireWire 400. I'd still have an FireWire 800 port available on my MBP. If I connect my external HD to my MBP (yeah, the one that will be in Target Disk Mode) using that FW 800 port, would my MBP allow this external HD to mount as if it was just another folder/drive in my computer? If positive, theoretically I'd be able to transfer files from my MBP to my external HD manually (by dragging files from folder to folders), right?
I really don't want to transfer my files from the MBP to the MB and then from MB to external HD. That would just take time and I really don't know how much available space I'll find on my friend's MB.
Oh, one last question: when transferring files using Target Disk Mode, do all computers involved in this process gotta have the same OS X version installed or it doesn't matter if e.g one is running Snow Leopard and the other Mavericks?
Looking forward to hear back from you, experts.

Grant Bennet-Alder West of Boston, USA
A new 1TB External drive (suitable to replace your current Internal drive if you choose to) and enclosure can be had for under US$160
Ehh, you meant $60 , not $160
CassHeger
I do need to buy an external HD to be used solely for that purpose.
Yes, quality HD are cheap as dirt.
however a likewise Toshiba Internal HD 1TB is $70   (same as used by Apple)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOSHIBA-MQ01ABD100-1TB-5400-RPM-8MB-Cache-2-5-SATA-3-0Gb -s-Internal-Notebook-/121107538930?pt=US_Internal_Hard_Disk_Drives&hash=item1c3 2 9263f2
best options for the price, and high quality HD:
Quality 1TB drives are $50 per TB on 3.5" or $65 per TB on 2.5"
Perfect 1TB for $68
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba
Nice 500gig for $50. ultraslim and perfect
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb
2.5" USB portable High quality BEST FOR THE COST, Toshiba "tiny giant" 2TB drive (have several of them, LOT of storage in a SMALL package)    $117
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48 /ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379182740&sr=1-4&keywords=2tb+toshiba
*This one is the BEST portable external HD available that money can buy:
HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
$88
http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Mobile-Portable-External-0S03559/dp/B009GE6JI8/ref=sr _1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383238934&sr=8-1&keywords=HGST+Touro+Mobile+Pro+1TB+USB+3.0+72 00+RPM
Most storage experts agree on the Hitachi 2.5"

Help: Windows XP on MacBook Pro Boot Camp Partition via Target Disk Mode

Firstly, let me lay out my situation. I have an old MacBook Pro (2,2) with a broken disk drive. It was dropped in its youth and can no longer read from or write to CDs or DVDs of any kind. I have just recently bought a new MacBook Pro to replace it (6,2) and am currently trying to convert the old computer into an XP machine through Boot Camp. I'd like to be able to do so without having to buy an external disk drive.
After a clean install of OS X (10.6.3) onto the old machine, I successfully partition 85GB of space (although I previously attempted the same with a 32GB file system to no avail as well) for XP to be installed upon. Because I cannot boot my XP install disk directly from the broken disk drive, I then close Boot Camp Assistant and shut down the computer. I start it up in Target Disk Mode to be accessed from the new MacBook (6,2).
Once the old MacBook is connected, I insert my XP install disk into the new MacBook (6,2) and boot from the disk. After allowing the XP (Professional) boot to load the install files, I arrow-key down to my 85GB partition (FAT32, named standard as "BOOTCAMP") on the old MacBook (2,2)'s hard drive and select it as the partition I would like to install to. This is where I am directed to a new boot window that tells me in a series of paragraphs that the XP installer cannot reach the selected partition for what seems to be a number of reasons. What it seems to be trying to say to me is that it cannot do a remote install of XP on a Target Disk Mode-connected machine, while not "knowing" that I am trying to do so. It's a similar message to the one that Boot Camp Assistant shows when one tries to create a Boot Camp partition on a machine that is being accessed via Target Disk Mode (Apple puts it much more clearly than Microsoft).
I'd be perfectly content, albiet slightly vexed, to conclude here that it is not possible, shuttle over to the nearest Best Buy, and purchase an external disk drive if it weren't for one thing: I tried the same thing two weeks ago with Ubuntu 10.10 and it installed perfectly on the Boot Camp partition I had created then (I have since wiped all and installed OS X cleanly on the laptop).
Here comes the point/questions:
If the Ubuntu boot disk can access the partition, why can't the XP boot disk?
Is there some way to convince the boot system that the drive is local, rather than being accessed via Target Disk Mode?
Is there an easy solution that doesn't even require that, and will allow me to install to the disk over a firewire connection?
If anyone's knowledgeable and/or brave enough to tackle this one, I'll be eternally grateful. Heck, I'll be grateful if anyone even attempts to tackle it.
Thanks,
-Alec Page

Windows XP will only install from the optical drive. Target Disk Mode does not work with Windows volumes. Windows will not install from any external device.

Startup problem after use in target disk mode with a PC. Ideas?

I used my Mac 10.4 in traget disk mode. Data transfers between Mac and PC worked fine (via Macdrive 6). After disconnecting and trying to boot normally, Mac doesn't recognize internal volume. It flashes the question mark.
Tried to repair disk via install DVD - disk utility found no problems.
Reapired permissons.
Reset PRAM and NVRAM.
Tried Startup utility - found the internal volume and even after selecting it for startup, I still get the flashing question mark.
Apple hardware test found no problems.
Archive and reinstall is not allowed.
Data can still be accessed fine via target disk mode.
Any ideas how to reinitialize or reset the startup volume?
Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Hello,
You need to put the Tiger Install Disc in the 2011 iMac, boot the 2011 uMac into Target mode...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
Boot the G4 holding the Option or alt key, hopefully the Install Disc in the 2011 iMac will show as a boot choice.
We just want to use the 2011 iMac as a big expensive FW Optical drive, it cannot be installed osing the 2011 iMac itself.

Target Disk Mode on new MacBook Air - where to find Thunderbolt to Firewire cable?

I use a MacPro desktop with a RAID set-up at home, and will use the new MacBook Air on the road. I need to use Target Disk Mode when I return home to sync my Macs. The MacPro only has Firewire 400/800; the new Air only Thunderbolt. Does anyone know how to find a Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter, please?

I, too, would like a TB<->FW adapter, but I'll wager that for 99% of those purchasing a new MBA it is not an issue let alone a serious ommission.
For the rest of 'us' (the remaining 1%) Sonnet has an adapter listed with info due 'later this summer' as to pricing/availability so as Waymen has already stated it may be a while before we see one.
In the meantime, I'll use a combination of USB2 drives (one of my dozen or so USB2 drives--120GB to 1TB--I have lying around), an Ethernet cable, SuperDrive, or AirDrop. Not as convenient but a usable work around.

Thunderbolt to Firewire target disk mode?

I've got an iMac (TB and FW) and a brand new MBA and I want to connect them in target disk mode to do file transfers.
I don't want to buy a TB cable as a TB-FW adaptor would be more useful (I have a FW audio interface) whereas it seems a TB -TB cable would just be useful for transferring files.
So my question is - can I set up target disk mode using TB on the MBA and FW on the iMac?
Cheers

Tough question huh? :-)
I found this
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57486268-263/apples-thunderbolt-firewire-ad apter-is-a-one-way-connector/
which doesn't totally make sense to me - I think what it's saying is that one computer could appear as an external disk on the other computer but not vice versa.
Just to reiterate, what I want to do is take some files off of the iMac (FW) and put them onto the MBA (TB). Any insight much appreciated.

Superdrive/target disk mode question revisited

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